How to stand out in your job application - what do employers say?

There’s no hiding from the fact that the student and graduate application process is highly competitive.

According to the 2019 report by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers (AAGE), in 2018 the average employer in the engineering consulting industry received 4,387 applications for 139 vacancies and mining companies received, on average, 2,673 applications for an average of 44 entry-level vacancies. Across all industries, the average employer reviewed 1,940 applications and filled 59 positions. As daunting as this is, it’s important to remember this data is only a snapshot. The reality is, some of the larger companies get more than 10,000 applications per year for an average of 100 graduate positions.

It’s clear from this information how important it is to stand out in your job applications. So, where do you start?

The AAGE report offers some insight by asking employers which skills are important. Not surprisingly, 60% of employers noted that academic achievement was ‘very important’ or ‘quite important’ while almost all employers noted that teamwork, interpersonal skills and communication skills were essential. This is obvious when we see companies using assessment techniques such as behavioural interviews, group challenges and presentation assessments when shortlisting applicants. Aside from being unlikely to be news to you, the chances are you are likely to do well in these areas along with everyone else. In fact, employers report that only 5% of applicants lack skills in teamwork and interpersonal skills and 11% of applicants are lacking in communication skills.

Where the report gets interesting is the part where employers list the skills that graduate applicants are most likely to LACK. Here’s your chance. Where others fail, you can prepare to excel! Here are the Top 3 skills employers look for and struggle to find:

  1. An understanding of the company

    Do you think it’s important to have a clear understanding of what the employer organisation does? 80% of employers do. Unfortunately, the AAGE report shows that 35% of applicants are lacking in this area so here’s an opportunity for you.

    It begins with the application; your resume and cover letter. Take time to tailor your application and clearly show why you want to work for their company – a description that leaves them in no doubt that you ‘get them’. At the interview, be prepared for the common interview question ‘Why do you want to work here?’ Your answer should show you have done your research; that you understand the organisation and how it directly relates to your interests, skillset and future career path. To do this well, go beyond the company website values and culture. Try researching the sector in which they operate. What challenges are facing them currently? Think ‘what are the major projects’ or ‘who are their key clients’ and why is this interesting to you.

  2. Emotional Intelligence

    The termEmotional Intelligence was first coined by psychologists Mayer and Salovey (1990) then popularised in the book by Goleman (1995) ‘Emotional Intelligence – why it can matter more than IQ’ as “the ability to identify, assess, and control one's own emotions, the emotions of others, and that of groups”. The value of high EQ seems obvious but many struggle in this area which introduces a potential opportunity for you. The demand for applicants who have EQ is growing after evidence suggests this type of employee will have better workplace performance. With this in mind, you won’t be shocked to hear that as many as 78% of employers consider EQ to be ‘very important’ or ‘quite important’. Interestingly, employers report up to 16% of applicants are lacking in EQ. Learn more about EQ through LinkedIn Learning course ‘Developing Emotional Intelligence’ with Gemma Leigh Roberts. Here’s how you can access LinkedIn Learning courses for free while enrolled at UQ.

  3. Resilience

    How resilient are you? Most of us consider ourselves to be pretty resilient but, if asked at an interview, could you provide a detailed example of a time you bounced back quickly when facing a tough challenge? It’s good news if you can because the AAGE survey shows that 80% of employers rate this skill as ‘very important’ or ‘quite important’. With 17% of applicants said to be lacking in this area, make this an area of strength for you. At the interview, demonstrate your resilience by telling the interviewer how you adapted to a situation that didn’t go to plan but you made work for you anyway. Post COVID we will all have our own stories to tell of how we have navigated our changed world. How have you maintained a positive approach to stay on track with your goals? How have you used the setback as a learning experience? Prepare your answer in the STAR format to share your story in detail.

    So, there you have it. Inside information on how you can stand out from the crowd. Any opportunity to stand out is a valuable one so I hope you can use this information to prepare and join the 21% of graduate applicants who industry found as ‘no skills lacking’.

    Improve your chances of success and get support from the EAIT Employability Team. A good place to begin is to build your understanding of what happens in the job application process and how you will be assessed by employers by viewing the Career Kickstarter online module ‘Understanding the job application process

Last updated:
19 November 2021